DEARBORN, Michigan: Founder & Instructor of India Performing Arts Center – IPAC, Mrs. Smita “Miki” Patel continuously strives to keep the passion of folk dancing alive in the girls of all ages. More recently IPAC’s two dance teams – Adult team (above 30 yrs.) and senior team (between 16 & 26) – participated in the prestigious FOGANA Dance competition in Dearborn, MI.
Teams from dance schools across the United States participated in this competition. Mrs. Patel, who is fondly called ‘Miki aunty’, choreographed dances for both the IPAC teams. The Adult team comprised professional women, who were also full time mothers, wives and daughters-in-law. Their training started 8 weeks back with 8 hours of practice each day, every weekend till July 21st – the competition day.
Their hard work and perseverance paid off and they won the 1st prize. The senior team worked with same zeal and passion. All of them are bright full time students. Considering the tough competition they had in their group, they still managed to bag the 3rd place.
The India Performing Arts Center (IPAC), a non-profit organization was founded in 1999 by Smita “Miki” Patel to advocate the importance of preserving and promoting rich India folk heritage while integrating American culture. IPAC’s guiding principle is to provide our next generation with a solid cultural foundation, not only to hold on to our family values, but to help them to blossom into something even greater than before.
With this win, IPAC also provided a forum for adult women to challenge themselves in their passion for folk dance, have fun while doing it and make lifelong friendships and memories. The trophy was the icing on the cake.
India Post News Service